Tableware article

ABSTRACT

A tableware article includes: a container; and a tray disposed co-axially with and coupled pivotally to the container, wherein one of the container and the tray includes a patterned surface formed with a pattern thereon, and the other of the container and the tray includes a mirror surface to reflect the pattern.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese application no. 095223019, filed on Dec. 28, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a tableware article, more particularly to a rotatable tableware article having a mirror reflection effect.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional tea set or coffee set includes a tea/coffee cup and a tray. Although the cup and the tray are usually formed with patterns, the visual effect provided thereby is static and therefore boring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a tableware article that provides a dynamic visual effect.

According to this invention, a tableware article includes a container, and a tray disposed co-axially with and coupled pivotally to the container. One of the container and the tray includes a patterned surface formed with a pattern thereon, and the other of the container and the tray includes a mirror surface to reflect the pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a tableware article according to this invention, illustrating a base, a bearing unit, and a tray;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the first preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is an assembled schematic partly sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of a tableware article according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of a tableware article according to the present invention is shown to include a container 1, and a tray 2 disposed co-axially with and coupled pivotally to the container 1. One of the container 1, and the tray 2 includes a patterned surface formed with a pattern 26 thereon, and the other of the container 1 and the tray 2 includes a mirror surface 30 that can reflect the pattern 26. In this embodiment, the container 1 includes the mirror surface 30, and the tray 2 includes the patterned surface.

Specifically, the container 1 includes a base 10 and a cup 3 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 1, the base 10 includes a concave portion 11 having a central part, and a peripheral part 131 extending upwardly from a periphery of the central part. The peripheral part 131 has a peripheral, wall 110 extending upwardly from a periphery of the peripheral part 131. A circular protrusion 12 is formed on the central part so as to divide the central part into a container-holding part 120 and an outer part 130.

The cup 3 is disposed co-axially on the container-holding part 120. It should be noted the tableware article of this invention includes glassware, silver, and other utensils for setting a table or serving food and drink. Examples of the cup 3 include a teacup, coffee cup, and a candleholder. In this embodiment, the cup 3 has an outer surface coated with a reflection coating thereon so as to define the mirror surface 30 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In addition, the cup 3 and the base 10 can be two separate parts or an integrally formed single piece according to the actual requirements.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tray 2 is disposed co-axially and rotatably on the base 10, and includes a flat portion 22 formed with a central through-hole 21 for extension of the cup 3 therethrough and having an outer periphery 200 and an inner periphery 210. The tray 2 further includes an outer surrounding wall 25 extending upwardly and outwardly from the outer periphery 200, and an inner surrounding wail 23 extending downwardly from the inner periphery 210. The outer surrounding wall 25 has an inner surface 20 defining the patterned surface and formed with the pattern 26 (see FIG. 3). The flat portion 22 has a bottom surface formed with a circular flange 24 adjacent to the inner periphery 210 (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 1, the tableware article further includes a bearing unit 14 disposed between the base 10 and the tray 2 so as to permit relative rotation between the tray 2 and the base 10. To be specific, the bearing unit 14 includes an outer race 141 having an outer surface 1410, an inner race 140 having an inner surface 1400, and rollers 142 disposed between the outer race 141 and the inner race 140. The outer race 141 is disposed on the peripheral part 131 of the base 10, with the outer surface 1410 abutting against the peripheral wail 110 of the peripheral part 131. Upon assembly, the tray 2 is connected to the base 10 through the bearing unit 14, i.e., the circular flange 24 of the fiat portion 22 is disposed on the inner race 140 of the bearing unit 14, and the inner surrounding wall 23 abuts against the inner surface 1400 of the inner race 140 (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 3, in use, when the tray 2 is rotated, reflections of the pattern 26 in the mirror surface 30 of the cup 3 keep on changing, thereby providing a dynamic visual effect.

FIG. 4 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of a tableware article according to this invention, in this preferred embodiment, the tableware article is a tiered snack tray. Specifically, the container includes a tray-like plate 40 having an inner surface defining a first mirror surface 400, and a shaft 41 disposed co-axially and securely on the tray-like plate 40 and provided with first and second bearing units 42, 43 secured thereto. The tray includes a first plate 50 and a second plate 51 mounted on the shaft 41 through the first and second bearing units 42, 43, respectively. The first plate 50 has a top surface 501 defining a second mirror surface, and a bottom surface 500 defining a first patterned surface and facing the inner surface 400 of the tray-like plate 40. The second plate 51 has a second patterned surface 510 facing the second mirror surface 501 (top surface) of the first plate 50.

With the provision of the patterned surface and the mirror surface on the relatively rotatable tray and container, the tableware article of this invention provides an interesting visual effect.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this Invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A tableware article comprising: a container; and a tray disposed co-axially with and coupled pivotally to said container, wherein one of said container and said tray includes a patterned surface formed with a pattern thereon, and the other of said container and said tray includes a mirror surface to reflect said pattern.
 2. The tableware article of claim 1, wherein said container includes a base and a cup, said tray being disposed co-axially and rotatably on said base, said cup being disposed co-axially on said base and extending through said tray, said cup having an outer surface defining said mirror surface, said tray having an inner surface defining said patterned surface.
 3. The table-ware article of claim 2, further comprising a bearing unit disposed between said base and said tray so as to permit relative rotation between said tray and said base.
 4. The tableware article of claim 3, wherein said tray is formed with a central through-hole for extension of said cup therethrough.
 5. The tableware article of claim 1, wherein said container includes a tray-like plate having an inner surface defining said mirror surface, and a shaft disposed co-axially and securely on said tray-like plate and provided with a first bearing unit secured thereto, said tray including a first plate mounted on said shaft through said first bearing unit, said first plate having a bottom surface defining said patterned surface and facing said inner surface of said tray-like plate.
 6. The tableware article of claim 5, wherein said shaft includes a second bearing unit, said first plate including a mirror surface opposite to said patterned surface of said first plate, said tray including a second plate mounted on said shaft through said second bearing unit, said second plate having a patterned surface facing said mirror surface of said first plate. 